34 embassies face closure over 11-year ground rent debt

No fewer than 34 foreign embassies in Abuja risk being shut down by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) due to unpaid ground rents dating back to 2014.

The FCTA’s publication revealed that several diplomatic missions collectively owe a total of N3,662,196 in ground rent, sparking enforcement action led by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.

The development follows the minister’s directive on May 26 for officials to commence enforcement actions on 4,794 properties revoked due to non-payment of ground rents spanning 10 to 43 years. However, President Bola Tinubu intervened, granting a 14-day grace period for defaulters to clear their arrears, which ends today.

FCTA’s Director of Land, Chijioke Nwankwoeze, noted that penalties of N2 million and N3 million would be imposed depending on the property locations.

Among the defaulting embassies are the Ghana High Commission Defence Section (N5,950); Embassy of Thailand (N5,350); Côte d’Ivoire (N5,500); Russian Federation (N1,100); Philippines (N5,950); Netherlands (N5,950); Turkey (N3,350); and Republic of Guinea (N5,950).

Others include Ireland (N500); Uganda (N5,950); Iraq (N550); Zambia High Commission (N1,189,990); Tanzania (N6,000); Germany (N1,000); Democratic Republic of Congo (N5,950); Venezuela (N459,055); South Korea (N5,950); and Trinidad and Tobago (N500).

• BREAKING: FCTA seals Access Bank, Total filling station over unpaid ground rent

Also on the list are Egypt (N5,950); Chad (N5,950); Sierra Leone (N5,900); India (N150); Sudan (N5,950); Niger Republic (N500); Kenya (N5,950); Zimbabwe (N500); Ethiopia (N5,950); and Indonesia’s Defence Attaché office (N1,718,211).

The Delegation of the European Union (N1,500); Switzerland (N5,950); Saudi Arabia (N5,950); China’s Economic and Commercial Counselor’s Office (N12,000); South African High Commission (N4,950); and Equatorial Guinea (N1,137,240) were also listed.

Some embassies, however, have contested their inclusion.

The Russian Embassy denied owing any rent, stating, “The Embassy pays all bills for the rent of the territory on which the Embassy complex is located in good faith and on time. The Embassy also has all necessary documents confirming payment.”

The Turkish Embassy also questioned the listing, noting, “We have not received a formal notification about the debt. We regularly make our payments on time, and we will check if we are on the list because of a bureaucratic mistake or a misunderstanding, and will fix the issue as soon as possible.”

The German Embassy clarified that it had not received any official notification, “We understand that you are referring to reports suggesting that the German Embassy in Abuja has outstanding rent obligations. We would like to clarify that no such claim or demand has been formally brought to our attention by the Federal Capital Territory Administration.”

It added, “Moreover, we can confirm that all official financial obligations relating to the Embassy’s premises have been fully settled as of the end of 2024. There are no known outstanding payments.
The Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany highly values its respectful and cooperative relationship with the government of Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory Administration and remains fully committed to transparency and mutual trust.”

The Ghana High Commission acknowledged the media report but noted, “The High Commission has noted the publication but has not been officially communicated to. We will liaise with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on this matter.”

An official at the Sierra Leone Embassy said, “I am not aware and I am not in the office now. On my return, I will inform my authorities to cross-check.”

Responding to the embassies’ denials, FCT Minister’s spokesperson, Lere Olayinka, said, “This claim will be promptly investigated and appropriate action will be taken.”

A former Nigerian ambassador to Mexico, Ogbole Amedu-Ode, urged caution while referencing the 1961 Vienna Convention, “For the diplomatic premises, if we are to go by the Vienna Convention of Diplomatic Relations, the premises of a diplomatic mission are inviolable.”

He added, “But that is not to say that they are not supposed to obey local municipal rules and regulations or the rules and regulations governing such things as relate to property ownership. However, there may be a caveat.”

He suggested a diplomatic approach, “It is a question of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs looking at each one on a bilateral basis and implementing it on a reciprocal basis.”

Foreign affairs analyst, Charles Onunaiju, also questioned the legality of applying ground rent regulations to diplomatic missions, “By the Vienna Convention establishing diplomatic missions, diplomatic premises are sovereign territory of their respective countries.”

He warned, “If you get into their premises to lock it down, you are obviously violating a very advanced diplomatic protocol. It will be a breach of diplomatic protocol.”

Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), and National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) — all initially listed — have settled their debts.

A PDP source said, “The PDP has resolved all issues with Wike regarding the ground rent. Action was taken on Friday to make the payment, so there is no longer any problem.”

When asked about updates, Olayinka said, “Some of these things, there is no way we can know. Some are paying through Remita, people are paying online. So, it’s until they bring their receipts that we can know.”

The FCTA had earlier sealed FIRS offices over rent debts, which the latter denied. However, FIRS Facility Director, Tyofa Abeghe, explained, “Nothing could be further from the truth on the claim as FIRS had paid the said money.”

He revealed that a notice issued in September 2023 by Abuja Geographic Information System was honoured with a payment of N2,364,003 within three months.

The issue has since been resolved, as has NAPTIP’s, according to sources at the agency, “It’s been resolved.”